The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1887-10-29

more was not accomplished, lay in the
obstruction to the means and methods
of attaining the object; the opposition
to the River and Harbor bin. And
that under the plea of favoring river
Improvement opponents thereof veil
their real intent through covert as
sault in the nature Of boldly malig-
nant aspersions and studied misrepre-
sentations ofthe bill; which possesses
the accepted and only way of its
attainment. So effective has been
this device of the enemy that the cause
has weakened and languished under
half-hearted apologies or open admis-
sion of those most interested in refuting
such injurious assaults. Here and here
alone must issue be joined; and all in-
terests and measures therein must be
merged, all purpose and movement
unified in support and furtherance of
this bill. When Col. Percy had made
this fact plain, coupled with a lucid and
absolute rescue of the much maligned
bill from false imputation and utter
snce, demonstrating that in the nature
of its organism it was freer than
any other appropriation bill from waste
or taint his audience was quick to
detect that at last and for the first
time "the scent was on the right
trail" To this fact is to be attributed
the unanimous acceptance of his speech
as the telling incident ofthe convention.
We regret that we cannot place re-
port of Col. Percy's much applauded
address before our readers. And had
so intended, but the fullest synopsis of
it, that in the Avalanche is quite in
accurate. And in one portion, that re-
ferring to the motives Of the secretary
ofthe treasury in the purchase ofbcaids,
and of the government millionaire pol
icy, is a broad misconception, indeed an
entire departure, from anything in the
speech. Col. Percy's objectiveis indeed
literally wrought out in the 18th reso-
luton; the product ofhis thought.
The following predatory paragraph
of the Avalanche truly reflects the inn
preston this argument made upon the
convention.
The call for Col. Percy was unani-
nous affair, ard when that gentleman
mounted the rostrum his hearers were
all attention. His speech was one OF
the most powerful and most logical that
had been heard by the assembly. II out.
lined the course to be pursued by the
friends of the Western waterways inn
provement in clear, distinct and un
mistakable manner. ltexplained thor
oughly the methods resorted to by con
gress in the handling Of such measures
as the river and harbor bill. 1t gave I
comprehensive insight into the work
ings ofthe United States congress wher
such subjects are brought to its atten
ton. 1t was a plain, simple and un
usually sensible statement Of the in
flucnces that would be brought to beai
by those who had reason to be indif
ferent to the success Of such a bill, t.
prevent its passage. 1t was profound
and reasonable argument, and was thu
recipient of frequent and continuou
applause. Even after the speaker haC
been talking for much longer tim,
than other orators had taken up, whel
he gave an intimation that he was abou
to close, there were calls from all part
of the house for him to continue. "G'
on,' go on" was cried, and the Mis-
sissippian, Recommending his argumen
taking up the thread of his discours,
where it had been dropped, launched
forth into an outburst of feloquence sucl
as is not frequently heard in Memphis
lie had the subject thoroughly digesteC
in his mind apparently and the word
seemed to come forth rather of thei
own volition than through any exertiol
upon his part. His address was emf
nently worthy of being reproduced il
type in full, but as the Avalanche
space was crowded, only the outlines o
his remarks could be given.
The following report of Judge Tay
lor of the River commission is publish